Clothesline tightener



Nov. 26, 1929. J. M. MEREDITH 1,737,195

CLOTHESLINE TIGHTENER Filed oci. 11, 1928 Illa/9141527! Patented Nov.26, 1929 JAMES MADISON MEREDITH, OF LEW'IS, IOWA CLOTHESLINE TIGHTENER 7This invention relates to clothes line devices and pertains particularlyto a tightening device or attachment for a line by means of which theline may be maintained in a taut condition.

The present invention has for its primary object to provide a device forholding a clothes line tight and to increase its holding or tighteningaction upon the line in pro-.

portion to the weight applied thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for holding aclothes line in tight condition both when clothes are hung on the lineand when the line is empty, the

device being of simple but strong and durable construction andcomparatively inexpensive to produce.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of an upright bar andsupporting means therefor whereby it may be pivotally mountedintermediate its ends upon a suitable supporting structure such forexample as a post or building wall,'the bar being designed to have aclothes line secured to the lower end thereof an da spring secured atone end to the upper end thereof, the other end of the spring beingsecured to the line at a point a substantial distance forward-of theattached end of the line. The distance between the point of support ofthe bar and the point where the line is attached is materially less thanthe distance between the point of support of the bar and the upper endor the end where the spring is connected so 7 that when weight isapplied to the line the lower end of the bar will be swung toward theline while the upper end will be pulled away therefrom thus acting topull upon the spring member which in turn exerts a pull upon the linewhich tends to pull it tight.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of this specification, with. the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so longas such chaiiges or modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is aview in side elevation of the clothes linetightener embodying-the present 1nvention showing the same applied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view partlyin section ofthedevice;

Figure 3 is a detailed view of the clamp connecting the line to thespring of the device.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 1 designates asupporting'structure which, while in the present instance is shown as apost may of course be a wall or other suitable structure. Attached tothe support is a suitable bracket such as the hook 2 to which isattached a clevis 3. This connection of the clevis with the bracket orhook may be loose so that it may be removed as desired.

Pivotally attached to the clevis 3 is an up right bar 4, the connectionbeing made preferably adjacent the lower endof the bar so that a greaterportion thereof extends above the clevis than below.

The lower end of the bar is suitably formed to have one end of a clothesline 5 attached thereto as for example the bar may be provided with thetransverse-aperture 6 through i which the end of the line may be passedto facilitate tying the line to the bar.

A relatively long coil spring 7 is provided, one end of which isconnected with the yoke portion of an inverted substantially U-shapedbracket 8 which bracket is secured to the line 5 by passing the linebetween the legs thereof and drawing the legs together to grip the line,by tightening up the nut 9 upon the bolt 10 which is passed through andconnects the legs.

The other end of the spring 7 has a chain 11 connected at one endthereto, this chain being designed to be attached to the pointed upperend 12 of the upright bar 4': by engaging one of the links thereof overthe pointed end of the bar.

From the foregoing'description it will be readily apparent that when aclothes line is attached at one end to the lower end of the bar in themanner shown and weight applied thereto the said lower end of the barwill be caused to swing about the pivot pin 13 by which it is secured tothe holding clevis 3 toward the line. This swing of the relatively shortlower end of the bar will produce a greatly increased swing of the upperend of the bar thereby pulling on the spring 7 and causingit to exertanupward, pull upon the line 5 to maintain the line tight.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A clothes linetightener comprising an elongated resilient member having means for theattachment at one end to a line,-and pivotal means carrying andconnected to the other end ofsaid member and t0 the line whereby uponthe application of a downward pull to the line a pull will bedirectlytransmitted tothesaid other end of the resilient member, placingthe same under tension to oppo se't-he downward pull on the line.

'2. A clothes linetightener, comprising an upright member pivotallymounted intermediate its ends, means for connecting a line to the lowerend of-the member, and an elongated resilient member having means forattachment at one end to the line and having its other end connected tothe upper end of the upri ht member.

3. A clothes-line tightener comprising a normally upright I bar, meansfor pivotally mountingsaid barat a point adjacent the lower end, meansforsecuringa clothes line tothe lower'end of said bar, an elongatedresilient member, means for connecting one end of said member to saidclothes line, and means for connecting the other end of the resilientmember to the upper end of the bar.

4. YA clothes line tightener comprising a normally vertical bar, meansforpivotally supportingthe bar at a point adjacentthe lowerGDl,l11621DSfO1 attaching one end of a clothes'linc to the lower end ofthe bar, an elongated spring'body, a clamp carried at one end of thespring for engaging said line,

' and a chainconnected to the other end of the spring and adjustablyconnected to the upper endof the bar.

5. A'clothes line tightener, comprising a pivotally mounted memberhaving means for attachment at one end of a line, and means associatedwith the member and line to tighten theline uponrapplication of aclownwardv pull thereto. 7 v

6. A clothes line tightener, comprising a pivotally mounted memberhaving meansxfor attaching a clothesline to one end thereof, and meansconnecting the other end of-the member with'the line-whereby the linewill Vbedrawn taut u 3011 aaolication of a downl l i ward pull thereto.

JAMES MADISON "MEREDITH.

